City of Sausalito News

Public Hearing Scheduled for Proposed Sewer Rate Increase

Post Date:05/03/2019 3:45 PM

Every five years, the City of Sausalito assesses its sewer management costs and needs, then establishes sewer rates to support those needs. Based on the current rate study, the City of Sausalito is proposing to raise the City's rates by an aggregate of 4% per year over the next five years. Funds generated by the higher rates will make it possible for the City to make capital improvements that are necessary for us to continue to maintain compliance with Clean Water Act requirements. A public hearing on the proposed increase has been scheduled for June 18, 2019.

The City of Sausalito collects and transports raw sewage through a system of pipes and pump stations. The sewage is then sent to the Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District interceptor.

Between 2014 and 2018, the City successfully reduced sanitary sewer overflows by 70 percent through a proactive maintenance and rehabilitation program. As the City's 80-year old system continues to age, additional repairs and replacements are needed.

The City's residential rate structure follows the approach that was approved by a majority of ratepayers and adopted by City Council in 2014. Sewer rates are allocated to one of four customer classes:

Single Family

Single Family Attached

Duplexes

Multi-Family

Eighty-eight percent of the sewer rate is comprised of a fixed charge for installed infrastructure, and the remaining 12 percent is an adjustable volumetric charge that is calculated based on winter water use for each customer class. During winter, water usage closely reflects indoor water usage and consumption. The volumetric component is adjusted annually based on average winter water usage for the prior fiscal year across all customer classes. A unique fixed and volumetric charge is assigned to non-residential customers.

The public hearing at which the City Council will consider and decide upon the proposed sewer service rate increase is scheduled to take place at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Time will be available for members of the public to provide their comments to the Council.

Any affected property owner or tenant may submit a written protest to the proposed increase to the sewer service rates. Each protest must be in writing, state that the identified property owner or tenant opposes the proposed changes, identify the parcel for which the protest is made (by assessor's parcel number or street address), and include the signature of the property owner or tenant. Only one protest will be counted per parcel. Protests may be submitted by mail to the City of Sausalito, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito, CA 94965. Protests may also be hand-delivered before or at the public hearing on June 18. To be counted, protest documents must be received before the hearing ends. If a majority of property owners submit a protest, the Council cannot adopt the proposed rates.

If you have questions or comments about the proposed sewer rate increase, please call (800) 676-7516 or send email to Yulia Carter, Assistant City Manager and Administrative Services Director, at ycarter@sausalito.gov.

Please note that the Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District transports and treats Sausalito's sewer flow and is conducting a parallel and separate rate assessment. Its rate appears separately on your property tax bill.